It may soon be departing for pastures new at Channel 4, but the BBC is relying on one last ratings hit for the Great British Bake Off, as it places the much-loved show at the heart of its Christmas schedules.

The Great British Bake Off is due to air at 4.45pm on Christmas Day, kicking off an afternoon of classic BBC One programming including Strictly Come Dancing and Call the Midwife.

It may face little fresh competition from its broadcasting rivals, with ITV airing the end of The Lion King, the Disney film, opposite it, while Channel 4 plumps for Raymond Briggs’ classic The Snowman and the Snowdog.

It will be the final BBC outing for Paul, Mary, Mel and Sue

On Boxing Day, the second episode of the two-part GBBO will take a star spot again at 7pm, as Mary Berry, Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc bid a final farewell to the BBC.

The GBBO Christmas special will see four previous Bake Off favourites return to the tent for a competition of their own, featuring three Christmas challenges.

Among them, it has been confirmed, will be Howard Middleton, a series four favourite who got caught up in early controversy nicknamed “Custardgate” after his custard was pinched from a fridge and used by another contestant.

Channel 4 will show Raymond Briggs' The Snowman

So far, the main 2016 series of GBBO broke its own viewing figures with 14.8 million tuning in live to see Candice Brown win.

This Christmas is the last chance for the BBC to utilise its popularity, in the fierce annual battle for ratings before it moves to the rival channel.

Elsewhere, the corporation’s Christmas Day will have a distinctly familiar feel to viewers with peaktime outings for shows which have proved big hits in recent years.

Strictly Come Dancing will return on christmas Day at 6.45pmCredit:
BBC

In an era where linear channels face stiff competition from streaming services Netflix and Amazon, this Christmas may prove even more of a sticking point as people unwrap tablet computers and subscriptions to watch instead of their home television.

The BBC has announced that six of last year’s top ten best rated shows will make a return to lure families in, with Strictly Come Dancing, Mrs Brown’s Boys, Call the Midwife, Doctor Who, EastEnders and the Queen’s speech proving a safe ratings bet.

Call the Midwife will be on at 8pm for a tear-jerking specialCredit:
BBC

In 2015, Mrs Brown’s Boys topped the charts at with consolidated figures showing 9.5 million tuning in, with 9.3m for Call the Midwife, 7.7m for EastEnders, 8.5m for Strictly and 7.7m for Doctor Who.

This year, BBC One has also secured smash-hit children’s film Frozen, announced the fifth-biggest film hit in box office history, to captivate the younger generation in the afternoon, the first time it has been free to air.

Downton Abbey, ITV’s biggest ratings hit at nearly 11m in 2015, will be absent from screens this year, leaving it relying on films throughout the day before Rowan Atkinson’s Maigret’s Dead Man captures the audience imagination at 9pm.

Doctor Who will air at 5.45pm on Christmas DayCredit:
BBC

BBC Two, meanwhile, will take a step back to rely on a diet of repeats it calls a “complementary schedule”, with The Morecombe and Wise Show, Blackadder’s Christmas Carol and Dad’s Army: Turkey Dinner taking centre stage.

Around three quarters of its shows over the two-week period will be repeats, with executives previously saying they would make “no apology” for giving viewers “another chance to watch some classic BBC programmes and modern family favourites again”.

Alan Bennett will take part in a documentary for BBC Two

Original broadcasts will include Alan Bennett’s Diaries on Christmas Eve, followed by his film The Lady in the Van, and a documentary about Dame Judi Dench’s career on December 30th.

The BBC said it would have fewer repeats on BBC One than last year, with over 90 per cent of peak time scheduling being classed as new.

ITV will be without its biggest Christmas hit, Downton Abbey, this yearCredit:
ITV

The Queen’s Speech will air on the BBC and ITV at 3pm, as tradition dictates.

The Great British Bake Off will debut on Channel 4 in 2017 with a charity special for Stand Up to Cancer.